You Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Shell (bèi) Zan; Kangxi radical count: 19; Page 1212, Entry 01 Pronounced zan (falling tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen jiezi), it means to see. It is composed of the characters for shell and the character representing progress. Xu Xuan notes that the component for progress is pronounced shen, meaning to advance. When holding a gift to advance, the official assists and supports the process. Also, in the Book of Changes (Yijing), in the chapter Explanation of Trigrams (Shuogua), it says, secretly assist the spirits. The commentary says, to assist is to clarify. The sub-commentary says, to assist means to aid and help to complete, allowing that which is subtle to become manifest; therefore, it is interpreted as to clarify. Also, in the Book of Documents (Shangshu), in the chapter The Counsels of Great Yu (Dayu mo), it says, Yi assisted Yu and said. The commentary says, to assist means to aid. In the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), in the chapter The Cap Ceremony for Scholar-officials (Shiguan li), it says, step back slightly to assist with the pronouncements. In the School Sayings of Confucius (Kongzi jiayu), it says, You and Xia could not assist with a single word. Also, in the Book of Documents (Shangshu), in the chapter The Counsels of Gao Yao (Gaoyao mo), it says, assist, assist, support the enterprise. The commentary says, this also means to assist by presenting the affairs of the ancients and speaking of them. The sub-commentary says, to advance and practice the affairs of the ancients, assisting in the completion of those words and speaking them. Also, to advance. In the History of the Former Han Dynasty (Qian Hanshu), in the Biography of Dongfang Shuo, it says, Shuo introduced himself. The commentary by Yan Shigu says, to introduce means to advance. Also, according to the Expanded Dictionary of Sounds and Meanings (Guangyun), it means to emerge, to assist. Also a surname. In the Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals (Lushi chunqiu), there is Xiang Ma Zan Jun. Also rhymes with jian; pronounced jian (falling tone). In a sacrificial prayer to the Wushan deity by Su Shi, it says, praying to the god, covertly borrowing its convenience. Not deviating from the original intention, perhaps emerging from the secret assistance.